Top New Zealand Culture - page 26

Your unique tour takes you off the beaten path to trek through the incredible tunnels and historic relics of Karangahake Gorge, where you'll walk in the footsteps of 19th-century gold miners amidst stunning native bush and dramatic river scenery. From this immersive historical adventure, you'll journey to the vibrant coastal city of Tauranga.

The Tu Tika Tour is an authentic Māori Connection in Whangārei. Discover Māori culture through a heartfelt, personal journey with Rangimarie, a local Māori woman born and raised in Whangārei. In this intimate 1.5‑hour experience, you’ll be welcomed like whānau, learn the customs and traditions that shaped her life, and feel the deep cultural and spiritual connection to Ōtuihau Whangārei Falls. Enjoy hands‑on flax weaving, learn a fun Māori waiata to help with pronunciation, and hear stories that bring Te Ao Māori to life. With small groups, warm hosting, and genuine connection, this tour is more than an activity — it’s a meaningful encounter with Māori culture shared with humour, heart, and authenticity. A must‑do for travellers seeking real culture, real people, and real connection. Authentic · Intimate · Unforgettable

Paddling a Waka Ama (Outrigger Canoe) along the beautiful Pilot Bay beach, and taking a 90 minute guided walk through the stunning scenery of Mauao, brings together everything that attracts people to the area. Guests are bonded through collaboration on the water, experiencing paddling in unison to make the waka (canoe) glide. Then on to explore the mountain with local Māori guides who share ancestral stories, history, and insights about the environment and culture. This mix of water and land activities, teamwork, exploration, and cultural storytelling creates a fun, memorable, and immersive experience from mountain to sea.

Discover the wonders of Rotorua on this immersive day tour from Auckland. Begin your journey through stunning landscapes to Te Puia, where the iconic Pōhutu Geyser erupts and bubbling mud pools come alive. There would be an opportunity to see New Zealand's national Bird Kiwi .Visit the Māori Arts and Crafts Institute to see traditional carving, weaving, and an exhilarating haka performance. Afterward, unwind at the Polynesian Spa, renowned for its rejuvenating thermal waters and picturesque views of Lake Rotorua. With expert guides sharing insights into indigenous culture, this tour offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation. - Day trip from Auckland to Rotorua showcasing natural wonders - Visit Te Puia, home to the Southern Hemisphere's largest geyser - Experience Māori culture through crafts and a live haka - Relax at the scenic Polynesian Spa with therapeutic thermal waters

4,500 year ago the migrations into the Pacific began and, the traditions of the Seven Sisters (Matariki) were carried into the Pacific by the Polynesians. In the dawn of early June, Matariki, the food bringer and her seven daughers rise the shoulder of Rangi to herald the beginning of the Maori New Year. At this time we see all the posts that hold up Rangi. The posts are stars. They are the basis of Maori astronomy. Also at this time, in the south, the Waka of Tama-rereti is berthed in the eyebrow of the sky. the stars of this waka are the basis of Polynesian navigation. In this presentation we explore the ancient legends and meanings of Matariki. We also explore the physical nature of this cluster of stars. Bookings are essential.

Your itinerary, your wineries, your way. Let us help you create your own private guided tour of Marlborough's stunning cellar doors or anything else you're interested in for an unforgettable day. This day is all about you for the ultimate Marlborough wine, food and heritage experience. We offer many choices of things to do, including: • Family-owned wineries and meeting pioneers in the wine industry • Boutique brewery or gin distillery - Marlborough has something for every taste. • A leisurely stroll around nationally acclaimed private gardens • Lunch at an award-winning restaurant featuring the best of local seafood, wild game and produce • World-class Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre featuring staging by Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop Your guide is a local who loves living in Marlborough and is happy to share their knowledge about wine or anything else you want to know about the region. Note: To organise these exclusive tours we require a MINIMUM OF 7 DAYS NOTICE.

A journey of discovery across the Auckland region. From the maunga (mountains) to the spectacular harbours of the Auckland region and the stunning west and east coasts and city environs, see the best of the Auckland region with our expert guides. We can curate the itinerary to suit your interests, including visiting sites of historic significance with Ngati Whatua O Tamaki, or visit our regional parks for a discovery walk in nature, or enjoy our galleries and artists, best restaurants and artisans. The choice is yours for a full day of touring! Possible locations to select from in your customisable tour: cultural touring, restaurant lunch, Auckland art galleries, Auckland War Memorial Museum, NZ Maritime Museum, regional parks, beaches and artisan visits.

Duration: Approx. 6.5 hours Transport: Comfortable tour van or minibus Audience: First-time visitors, history & culture enthusiasts Wellington’s political, cultural, and historical landmarks, complemented by a scenic cable car ride and a historic pub lunch. Enjoy a scenic ride on the Wellington Cable Car & take in the panoramic city views. Old St Pauls - discover this 1866 Gothic Revival wooden cathedral with intricate timberwork and stunning stained-glass windows. Be taken on a tour of the Wellington Museum, which occupies the 1892 Bond Store, a historic building on the waterfront. Voted in 2013 as one of the world's 50 best museums. Experience a 15 minute tour at The Thistle Inn - learn about its historic significance, including the connection to Māori chief Te Rauparaha. Enjoy a delicious lunch at New Zealand’s oldest surviving pub (est. 1840). Mount Victoria lookout: Photo opportunities aplenty while we take in the amazing views of Wellington city, and its harbour.

Discover the wonders of the universe at the renowned Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve in Twizel. With a focus on scientific knowledge, these small-group guided tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the night sky through a large telescope. Your expert guide, with over a decade of astronomical experience, will share insights about stars, planets, and deep-sky phenomena, making this an unforgettable experience for all ages. Enjoy a complimentary astro photo as a keepsake. - Guided by an experienced astronomer with 10+ years in the field - Small groups for a personalized experience (max 10 participants) - 75 to 90-minute tours - Learn about the cosmos through laser-guided tours and telescope observations

This day tour from Auckland offers an easy way to visit the Waitomo Caves. Admire stalagmites and stalactites in the glowworm cave, enjoy an underground boat ride, walk through Cathedral Cave, and learn about the history and geology of this natural marvel. Photography is permitted in Ruakuri Cave, so bring your camera to capture the stunning formations.

This immersive experience takes you beyond the screen and into the real-world settings that brought The Lord of the Rings to life. Travel from Queenstown to Glenorchy and Paradise, with further exploration of the Gibbston and Arrowtown areas. Your guide will share filming stories, behind-the-scenes insights and the magic that makes these landscapes unforgettable. From dramatic alpine valleys and river settings to remote backcountry terrain, this tour blends film history with breathtaking natural beauty. Enjoy the freedom of a private guide, flexible photo stops, short walks and time to take in each location at your own pace. A must-do full-day experience for film lovers, photographers and adventurers alike. - 8-hours private tour focused on the trilogy - Visit real landscapes used for Isengard scenes and other filming locations - Visit Glenorchy and Paradise Valley, home to Lord of the Rings filming locations - Flexible time for short walks and exploration

Ninety minutes. One city. No wasted steps. If you have a few hours in Christchurch, off a ship at Lyttelton or on a stopover between one thing and the next, the usual advice is to pick a single sight and hope it was the right one. This walk is the other option: the centre of the city, the short way round, with someone who lives here doing the talking. Christchurch is not a city that shows you what it has always been. It shows you what it is becoming. In ninety minutes you will stand in front of a Gothic revival cathedral still marked by the 2011 earthquakes, then walk a few streets to a working cathedral built out of cardboard tubes. That gap, between the city that was and the city being built in its place, is the most interesting thing happening in New Zealand right now, and almost nobody is telling visitors about it properly. Your guide is a local. Expect the short, true version: the buildings, the stories behind them, and the parts that do not make the guidebooks.